Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that shops and commercial establishments in Himachal Pradesh can now operate round the clock following amendments to the state's labour laws. The decision was made during a review meeting of the Labour and Employment Department in Shimla.
Amendments to the Shops and Establishments Act
The state government amended the Himachal Pradesh Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1969, and related rules to promote trade and industry and encourage ease of doing business. Sukhu stated that the amended provisions would be implemented more effectively across the state, allowing shops and commercial establishments to operate 24x7. This move provides greater flexibility to businesses and enables consumers to shop at their convenience.
Digitisation of Services
The Chief Minister directed the Labour and Employment Department to fully digitise the process of providing all services, including certificates and licences, to ensure people do not face inconvenience in obtaining these documents. He emphasized making the compliance system more effective while strengthening worker protection and welfare.
Subsidies for E-Taxis and E-Rickshaws
Sukhu highlighted that under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgaar Start-up Yojana-2023, youth are provided a 50 per cent subsidy for purchasing e-taxis. In the financial year 2026-27, an additional 500 youth will receive this subsidy, with a budget provision of Rs 50 crore. Similarly, 500 youth will get a 50 per cent capital subsidy via direct benefit transfer for e-rickshaw purchases.
The meeting was attended by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, Chief Secretary KK Pant, Secretary to CM Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary Priyanka Basu Ingty, Labour Commissioner Virender Sharma, and other senior officials. The government aims to boost trade and industry while ensuring worker welfare through these reforms.
